Merry's Resolve

Since Yin Yang Release could touch Merry's body, could he use Yin Yang Release to save her?!

The hope of saving Merry now rested entirely on him. No matter what, he had to try.

Looking at the little guy in his arms, Xi Yan tried his best to stay calm.

Whether Merry could survive or not depended entirely on him.

"So you really have a way?!"

"I can't guarantee it'll work, but I have to try." Xi Yan took a deep breath. "At least I won't be left with regrets."

"Then go for it," Luffy said.

Though he did not know exactly what Xi Yan intended to do, he chose to trust him.

"Do you need our help?" Sanji asked.

"I know a thing or two about shipbuilding too," Franky added. "If you need anything, just tell me."

"You can't help with the method I'm using." Xi Yan shook his head.

"You're probably planning to use a ninja's method," Kokoro said.

Everyone froze for a moment, then nodded helplessly.

If it was a ninja's method, there truly was nothing they could do to help.

"Merry, stop the ship." Xi Yan looked at Merry.

The first thing he needed to do was find a way to sever Merry's connection to the ship, so that the ship's condition would no longer affect Merry herself.

But if Merry continued maintaining the ship's condition, Xi Yan could not act directly either.

"No."

"No?"

"I won't stop the ship until I've brought you ashore," Merry said.

While speaking, more cracks appeared across her body, but the little guy paid them no attention at all.

"Merry!!"

Usopp looked at Merry with heartache, wishing he could suffer in her place.

Perhaps sensing Usopp's intense feelings, Merry smiled and continued, "Right now, I'm only keeping the Going Merry running by relying on sheer will. Once I pull my strength back, this ship will break."

"Then, even if I wanted to do anything, I wouldn't be able to. So... I can't agree to what you said."

As the ship's spirit, Merry knew her own condition and the extent of the ship's damage very well.

Once she followed Xi Yan's suggestion and withdrew her power, the ship's keel would immediately snap. At that point, the Going Merry would no longer be able to sail, and her life would reach its end.

But that was not what Merry wanted to see. How could she be willing to die at sea before sending everyone back?

"But if this continues, you'll die."

"It's okay. I'm not afraid."

A warm smile spread across Merry's face. She looked at her partners and said, "Isn't the meaning of my existence to take everyone safely to their destination?"

"Merry!!"

"Xi Yan, do what you need to do." Zoro looked at Xi Yan calmly. "The longer we delay, the worse it'll be."

"If I force it, I might hurt her."

"That's still better than letting Merry die!"

Xi Yan hesitated. That was true, but if Merry did not cooperate later, how was he supposed to save her?

Just then, Franky noticed something in the distance and exclaimed in delight, "I see a ship!"

"A ship?!"

Everyone's eyes lit up. If there was another ship, did that mean Merry would not have to keep enduring the pain to maintain the Going Merry?

Clang!

Zoro drew his sword directly. "Get ready to take the ship."

It might be unfair to those people, but they could not worry about that now. At worst, they could compensate them afterward. The most urgent matter was saving their partner.

"Wait!" Usopp peered into the distance through his special goggles. "Those people seem to be... Iceberg Uncle and the others!"

"That idiot Iceberg?" Franky's eyes immediately lit up. "Then we don't need to take it."

"Then we..."

Before Usopp could finish, they heard an unpleasant sound, as if... wood itself were groaning in agony!

This sudden change made Usopp's face turn pale.

He immediately looked toward the hull and discovered that cracks had begun to form beneath the railing!

"Oh no, the Going Merry..."

"Someone came to pick you up? That's wonderful..." Merry said weakly. "Then I can finally..."

As she spoke, the cracks on Merry's body multiplied, and she looked increasingly frail.

And without the ship spirit sustaining her, fractures began appearing throughout the Going Merry as well, as though she would completely fall apart at any moment!

"Wah-la-la~"

Suddenly, the seawater churned and gently wrapped around the underside of the Going Merry, as though it had added a protective layer to the ship.

This change halted the Going Merry's gradual collapse.

"Whew... This should keep it from breaking for now." Xi Yan let out a long breath.

With seawater surrounding it, even if the keel snapped, the ship would not shatter apart. It simply would not be able to move anymore.

Seeing that Merry's condition was no longer worsening, the others breathed a sigh of relief.

"That scared me to death... I thought Merry was going to..."

Chopper bit his hoof as he looked at Merry, trying hard not to cry.

"You should go to that ship first," Xi Yan said.

"How are we supposed to get there?" Sanji said helplessly. "We had a lifeboat, but after what happened earlier, it's gone now."

They could not exactly swim over there. Everyone was running low on strength.

"Swim over," Zoro said.

"Swim over?"

Chopper blinked. He looked at the sea and thought it over carefully... For Merry's sake, he would do it!!

"Idiot, of course I'm taking you with me." Zoro grabbed Chopper, who was about to jump into the sea.

Was this kid really planning to swim over by himself?

"I'll take you there."

As Xi Yan spoke, a Water Dragon appeared on the sea, silently floating beside the Going Merry.

"Hey, we don't have your ability to stand on water," Franky said.

"Quit talking and move!" Sanji kicked Franky, sending him straight onto the Water Dragon's head.

Splash~

He fell directly into the surging current, bobbing up and down inside the Water Dragon.

Franky: ???

Bro, it wasn't like I said I wasn't going.

But when he saw everyone else leap in without hesitation, even the Devil Fruit users, Franky stopped complaining.

Boom!!

Soon, the enormous Water Dragon carried everyone away, charging toward the huge ship where Iceberg was!

At that point, only Xi Yan and Merry remained aboard the Going Merry.

After gently placing Merry on the ground, Xi Yan said,

"Merry, do you trust me?"

"Hmm!"

Although this was only her first time meeting Xi Yan, he was also a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. That made him her partner, so she was willing to trust him.

"Good. What I'm about to do concerns whether you live or die." Xi Yan's expression gradually turned serious. "Cooperate with me fully. Don't resist. Understand?"

"Okay, I understand."

Though she did not know what Xi Yan was going to do, if she could truly survive and continue adventuring with her partners, how could she possibly be unwilling?

She... wanted to live too!

At that moment, Xi Yan felt Merry's desire to live.

Xi Yan took out a scroll from his Ninja Tool Bag and placed it on the ground.

Poof~

A puff of white smoke drifted past, and the small scroll instantly turned into an extra-large scroll!

"What is this?" Merry asked in confusion.

"This is a special scroll."

"What is it for?"

"Anyway... it can save you," Xi Yan said.

Yin Yang Release, Sealing Technique, Summoning Technique...

Xi Yan planned to try them one by one until he found a way to save Merry.

"Okay, I understand. I'll cooperate with you."